The fully-redesigned, all-electric “hamster ride” gets bigger battery & more range!
Over the last decade or so, Kia have made a huge mark on the global automotive industry, with much of the praise needing to go to the funky Soul.
The boxy crossover quickly became a huge success and continues to be a top seller and a crowd pleaser. Among the members of the third generation Soul car family is the all-electric 2020 Kia Soul EV.
It may well be an eco-friendly version of the now iconic vehicle, but it still contains all the fun and goodies that made the gas model such a huge hit. Let’s take a closer look.
| 2020 Kia Soul electric vehicle (U.S.) | |
| Battery size | 64 kWh |
| Range | 243 miles |
| Horsepower / torque | 201 hp / 291 lb.-ft. |
| On-board charger (OBC) | 7.2 kW |
| 0 – 62.1 mph | 7.6 seconds |
| Max. Speed (mph) | 104 mph |
| Tire size | P215/55R17 |
| Trim levels (U.S.) | Base Soul EV & Soul EV Designer Collection |
| MSRP (U.S.) | To be announced |
- Read more: Kia Soul EV specs
Exterior design
While the basic styling of the Soul EV remains the same as the gas-powered model, it does have a few elements that help differentiate the models.
The front and rear bumper fascias on the EV have a different styling, while there is also a grille insert with a charging door found up front.
The 2020 Soul electric vehicle also features LED headlights and unique fog lamps, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels. Some different touches here, but still all the things drivers love about the original Soul.
2 trim levels in the U.S. market
Not content with delivering a single Soul EV model, Kia have two available in the U.S.
The Soul EV serves as the base model, while the Soul EV Designer Collection adds a few bells and whistles above the base model, which include:
- Two-tone paint options: Gravity Grey with a Platinum Gold roof, Cherry Black with an Inferno Red roof and Neptune Blue with a Cherry Black roof
- Power-folding gloss-black heated, power-adjustable outside mirrors with signal repeater
- 10-speaker Harman/Kardon premium audio with external amplifier
- Wireless phone charger
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Heated front seats with Sofino premium non-animal seating upholstery
- Auto-dimming rear view mirror
An even better driving experience
The original Soul EV was always a lot of fun to drive, but you are going to get an even bigger kick out of the 2020 model.
The new model delivers 201-horsepower and 291-lb.-ft. of torque, a rather hefty upgrade from the previous generation. The handling and driving dynamic have also seen a considerable improvement, thanks in part to the use of an independent rear suspension.
Bigger battery + more range
Many EV models are defined by their range and battery size. The 2020 Soul EV is going bigger on both, adding a lithium ion polymer 64 kWh battery, which should mean that owners will not need to charge quite so often.
The new battery is still in the testing phase, so we are not yet totally sure what the range will be, although we should get that info fairly soon. Given that the previous 30-kwh battery delivered a range of 110 miles, we can expect that the new model will come in with a range around 230 miles.
Expected sale date in the U.S.
Expect to see the 2020 Kia Soul EV in the U.S. showrooms at the beginning of 2020, at which time we will have all the details on pricing. We will also soon find out which states will get the Soul EV, as it will initially be a limited release.
